Fall Gardens

October in Lodi can still feel surprisingly warm during the day, but the cooler evenings are telling us that fall has arrived. The soil is still warm from summer, the days are getting shorter, and the intense heat is beginning to ease. For gardeners in our Zone 9 climate, this combination makes October one of the best times of the year to get a head start on a beautiful spring garden. Instead of waiting until March or April to think about spring color, start now. Think of you

As September approaches in Lodi, our gardens are beginning the transition from summer heat to fall. It’s tempting to reach for the pruning shears and start cleaning everything up—but some plants benefit from a late-summer trim, while others are best left alone. Here are 10 plants to consider pruning now—and several you should resist cutting back. 1. Lavender — Lightly Prune Once summer flowering has finished, trim off spent flower stalks and lightly shape the plant. You can r

Fall in the garden. From Flower Garden to Veggie Garden, November is the time to tackle the garden clean-up! Planning ahead for the next Spring gets your garden ready to flourish. Here are some tips to help you: Flower Garden Prune lightly and deadhead annuals and perennials to keep beds tidy. Avoid major pruning until late winter. Plant spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, freesias, ranunculus). Chill tulips and hyacinths for 4–6 weeks before planting. Plant winter a

Paperwhites Fall just started. It's a great time to think about blooming bulbs as gifts for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Timing is everything. If you start now, you will have beautiful blooms to give as gifts . Here is a Blooming Bulb planning calendar: October Start Paperwhites (4–6 weeks to bloom) → Ready for Thanksgiving gifts. Begin chilling tulips, hyacinths, crocus, daffodils (10–14 weeks required). Plant Amaryllis indoors (6–10 weeks to bloom) for early December flowe

Yes, summer flew by. Here in Zone 9, we have wonderful weather in late summer, early fall. It's a great time to work in the garden. Here are some key activities to focus on: Vegetable Garden | Photo credit: Wix.com Vegetable Garden Plant cool-season crops: lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, beets, carrots, peas, radishes, broccoli. Remove spent summer crops to free up space and reduce pests. Start garlic, shallots, and onions toward the end of September. Pansies | Photo Cre